SINGING THE “N-WORD”

         International hip-hop stars such as Jay Z, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar have hit records which are chart topping with crossover appeal. According to the Nielsen Report, R&B and hip-hop has taken the crown for overall music consumption in the United States. The genre is responsible for 25% of overall music consumption. Long time champ the rock genre comes in a close second with 23%.

           The hip-hop movement is rich in culture and has several polarizing stars. This elite crop of artists is capable of traveling abroad and selling out venues in different countries. The international attraction to the culture is at an all-time high. The popularity of the genre is thriving to the point of other countries creating their own rap stars. 

         Rebstar, is an artist with multiple chart topping hits. Rebstar is unique due to the fact he’s a rapper in Sweden. Other places, such as China, the United Kingdom, and Germany have rising hip-hop artists attempting to make an impact in their own territorial areas.

           With its global popularity continuing to grow, I stumbled across a problem which has reasonable cause for debate right here in the states. Music places an imprint in time. For example, when your first girlfriend broke up with you, the song that was playing in the background is burned into your memory.

           Music has a powerful element to it. When you’re in the shower, or your car, if your favorite song comes on, you’re tempted to sing-along. As my terrible vocals echoed Drake’s song Nice For What, a thought entered my mind. What if I was a concert goer and I was singing Nice For What, which includes the N-word? Is this a problem? To raise the bar, what if I was singing the lyrics to the song which includes the N-word, and I was a White person? Is this form of verbalizing the N-word acceptable?

           The word “nigger” is a racial slur, which was used as early as 1775. It was a term meant to insult Black people, and classify them as being ignorant. During the civil rights movement, when a White person used the word “nigger”, it was an instant trigger. It led to aggressive verbal exchange, or physical violence.

           Fast forward fifty plus years later, and the word “nigger” still has a great deal of emotion attached to it. We’re now in the millennial generation where the term “nigga” has taken center stage. Unlike the term “nigger”, the word “nigga” is a term of endearment. According to the unwritten rules, the term” nigga” is non-offensive when used amongst African Americans. If a White person uses the word “nigga”, it transitions into an offensive word.

           Some Whites and Asians who grew up in urban neighborhoods receive a pass when using the N-word. Their usage comes with a stipulation. The guideline clearly states they can use the N-word in the neighborhood, but they can’t travel to a different neighborhood where people don’t know them and use the N-word. Latinos seem to get a full-time pass to use the N-word due to the fact they can relate to the social and political struggles African Americans have endured.

           “Nigga” is a word White Americans shouldn’t verbalize towards an African American, but should they receive a pass to sing it? If an African American artist is going to use the N-word in the song repeatedly, why should a white consumer not be allowed to sing-along with the music they purchased? I wouldn’t want to sing a song and every other word I have to say bleep. How can I enjoy the sing-along if I’m singing bleep every other word?

           The use of the N-word in hip-hop songs is a touchy situation. You’re basically telling White people the N-word is used throughout the songs, and you can buy the music, but just don’t sing the forbidden word.

           The N-word in music can be a confusing subject. The alarming question is what is the solution? Should White Americans receive a pass to sing the N-word? As a sign of respect should White Americans voluntarily uphold not singing the N-word? To end the possibility of a debate, should African American artists not include the N-word in their music?